Referee numbers growing, but hockey more so

Times Reporter

 

Referee In Chief for Strathmore Minor Hockey John Culshaw is in his first season with the head role. However, the past eight seasons, Culshaw has been the referee assigner for the league as well. He says each year the number of referees have steadily inclined.

“We’re probably close to 60, in and around Strathmore,” Culshaw said.

As often as possible, Strathmore Minor Hockey tries to use two linesmen and one referee from the atom level and upwards – but sometimes it’s not so easy.

“We’re struggling with numbers. Years past we’ve always been able to three-man everything, and this year what we’re finding even at the bantam and midget levels, we’re having to do games with a two-man system.”

Throughout Alberta’s central zone, this is a problem, even with numbers increasing each year.

“There’s just been a shortage of officials lately,” Culshaw said. “Because there’s so many of them (at the lower level) and they can only do a certain level of hockey. Therefore there’s many more bodies than work to go around (at that level, so) you lose some.”

Bantam or midget aged refs Culshaw finds, tend to lose interest or find other jobs that are more secure. With the sport of hockey growing at a rapid rate, referees and linesmen can’t keep up with schedules, as they have to be qualified for certain levels.

“We had a wave of kids that went off to college and university,” Culshaw said. “Plus, Bassano called me and asked me to help their bantam games. In years past we’ve been able to help out Okotoks when they’re shorthanded. What we’re finding this year is we’re so busy trying to fill our own that we can’t even do that.”

Each year every referee and linesman must be recertified through a clinic, and complete an exam.

“That clinic goes over the rulebook in great detail. Positioning is dealt with for two-man and three-man systems. There’s some online coursework that’s done. They’ll cover odd situations that people have come across over the years,” Culshaw said. “We try to make sure we’re consistent with the rules and calling it fair for everybody. One part of feedback I get from coaches and managers is that the level of officiating in Strathmore is very strong.”

Though the minimum age for refereeing is 13, and the majority of Strathmore officials are 14-17 years of age. This position could aid them later in life, Culshaw says.

“I mean you’ve got conflict management, there’s all kinds of different people skills you’d learn. Also how to deal with stressful situations,” he said. “They know that there’s an avenue of help for them. If you’re calling it as fair as you can, and you have to deal with a coach, do what you need to. If that person needs to be ejected, that’s fine.”

Senior officials coach along the clinics as well, to see who has potential to go farther in their referee career.

“With doing that, we’re able to identify kids that are ready to progress to a higher level of hockey. There are continuous levels of evaluation going on,” Culshaw said.

Clayton Hall, a Strathmore officiating alumnus, now referees in the Western Hockey League. In the recent Mac’s Tournament in Calgary, locals Justin Geeraert and Tyler Jensen officiated the championship final.

“There’s two kids (Geeraert and Jensen) that have done lots of hockey. They’ve done Wheatland Chiefs, Wheat Kings, Strathmore Minor Hockey – that’s where they progressed from,” Culshaw said. 

As to what senior officials look for, Culshaw says being patient and level-headed are two of the most important traits.

“Someone with a not quick-fuse, you could say,” Culshaw said. “To progress to that level, skating ability does come into it too.”